LETTER: Buck stops with voters

Anyone who whines about town services or the lack of them has no one to blame but themselves for not showing up, getting involved, paying attention and making their own votes count at Town Meeting.

When news reports come out and report that the "town" canceled the fireworks, or that the "town" has no lifeguards for the beaches, or no special police for the summer, we need to go back to and recall the last Town Meeting.

I recall that at the last Town Meeting there was $245,000 unexpectedly found in the budget. The meeting was stacked with those with a special interest in saving the library. I recall Selectman Cronin stating at that meeting that he would rather see some of that money go toward the summer police. That suggestion was ignored.

When newspapers and TV media say the "town," it means just that. The "town." The people. The voters.

When these outlets say the "town," blame immediately goes to the Board of Selectmen. I am sometimes guilty of that thought also, until I stop and think otherwise. They are only five people. Their responsibility is to carry out the wishes of the voters at Town Meetings. They do not dictate where our dollars are spent.

Anyone who whines about town services or the lack of them has no one to blame but themselves for not showing up, getting involved, paying attention and making their own votes count at Town Meeting.

The silver lining? The library was spared. The dark cloud? No lifeguards, no fireworks, no special police for a beach-side community dependent on tourism.

So, as taxpayers, we can be a part of the problem or we can be a part of the solution.

We are not the only town in Massachusetts with shortfall budgets. But we can exercise our rights on where to spend our tax money with our votes at Town Meetings.

Kudos to those who stacked the meeting and voted that money to the library. Shame on the rest of us for not showing up and letting it happen.

Betty Ann Roderick

Wareham

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